Slatted base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slatted frames for beds lack enhanced comfort and functionality, particularly in supporting both lying and sitting positions while providing adequate massage features for muscle and intervertebral disc relief.

Innovation Solution

The slatted frame design incorporates a head part that is both pivotable and translationally movable relative to the foot part, with a drive unit enabling alternating back-and-forth movement, allowing for adjustable positioning and massage functions, and features a gear arrangement to minimize noise and vibration transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the headboard is made pivotable to enable sitting position, then adaptability is improved, but mattress compression and damage occur during pivoting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition adjustment capabilityVSAvoidmattress durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The headboard is moved translationally in advance before pivoting occurs, creating clearance between the headboard and footboard. This preliminary translational movement prevents the mattress from being compressed or damaged during the subsequent pivoting operation, while still enabling the headboard to transition between lying and sitting positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If massage function is added through headboard movement, then user comfort is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser comfortVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The massage function is integrated into the existing headboard positioning mechanism. The same drive unit that moves the headboard for position adjustment (lying to sitting) also provides the massage function through alternating back-and-forth movements. This merging of functions adds comfort without requiring a separate dedicated massage mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The massage function is implemented through periodic alternating movement of the headboard back and forth in the longitudinal direction. This rhythmic motion is generated by the drive unit moving the headboard translationally in opposite directions, creating a massaging effect on the user's back and shoulders without complex additional mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If drive unit is added for translational movement, then functionality is improved, but noise and vibration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetranslational movement capabilityVSAvoidnoise and vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A gear arrangement is introduced as an intermediary between the drive unit and the headboard. This gear mechanism serves as a mediator that reduces the noise and vibration generated by the drive unit during translational movement of the headboard, while still effectively transmitting the driving force to achieve the desired movement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4360506A1Slatted base
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 HERMANN BOCK GMBH
  • EP4360506A1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP4360506A1 patent drawingFigure 6
  • EP4360506A1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

The invention relates to a slatted frame or similar mattress support, in particular for a bed, with a head section (2) serving to support at least the head of a person and a foot section (3) serving to support at least the legs and feet of a person, wherein the head section (2) is pivotable relative to the foot section (3) about a pivot axis (5) extending transversely to the longitudinal extent (4) of the head and foot sections (2, 3), characterized in that the head section (2) is designed to be translationally movable relative to the foot section (3) in the direction of the longitudinal extent (4) of the head and foot sections (2, 3) and that a drive unit (14, 63) is provided which is operatively connected to the head section (2) and is configured to move the head section (2) back and forth alternately relative to the foot section (3).